Violin holder



P. S. BISHOP VIOLIN HOLDER Jan 31, .1933.

Filed Jan. 14, 1932 JVENTUE 3. 5 BJSHUP 96 mm HHHHhpHl 2 1 w w Lfln. .8 1 1C \ll\/\ 7 J E1 1 LZHNEYS.

Patented Jan. 31, 1933 PETER STEVENS BISHOP, OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA VIOLIN HOLDER Application filed January 14, 1932.

This invention relates to violin chin rests and has for an object the provision of an improved design of chin rest for a violin adapted to facilitate holding the violin in playing position.

Another object is to provide a chin rest for a violin, which is adjustable, thereby permitting each individual player to arrange the chin rest in precisely the position which affords him the greatest convenience.

A further object is to provide a resilient member extending rearwards from the back end of the players neck in such a manner as F to hold the violin with the chin rest securely in engagement with portions of the players face, thereby greatly relieving the strain upon the arm of the player which otherwise would be required to support the entire weight of the violin.

This invention possesses other objects and advantageous features, some of which, with those enumerated, will be set forth in the following description of the inventions particular embodiment, which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming a part of the specification.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description, taken n in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a violin supported by a chin rest and a neckengaging member incorporating the princi- 95 ples of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the violin, showing the chin rest and neck-engaging member in operative position.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the back end of the 40 vlolin, taken in the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the back end of the violin and showing the chin rest in vertical section.

The device of the present invention coma prises a chin rest 6, a clamp 7 for attaching the chin rest 6 in operative position upon a violin 8, and a neck-engaging member 9, all

of which will be described in greater detail hereinbelow.

Preferably, the clamp 7 comprises upper Serial No. 586,613.

and lower clamping members 11 and 12 respectively, each of which is provided with cushioning means such as a strip of felt 13 applied to that surface of the clamping member which is proximal to the violin 8. Each clamping member 11-12 is provided with preferably a plurality of threaded pins 14 engaged by turnbuckles 16 which may be rotated to draw the clamping members 11 and 12 together so as to clamp the members 11 and 12 securely against the upper and lower surfaces 17 and 18, respectively, of the violin at the back end 19 thereof.

The chin rest 6 comprises a plate 21 of hard rubber or other suitable material having preferably a straight edge 22 and an arcuate edge 23 the ends of which intersect the ends of the straight edge 22. A depression 24 is formed in the upper surface of the plate 21, this depression substantially following the general configuration of the plate 21 and having its deepest portion adjacent the straight edge 22, as indicated at 26. The plate 21 is pivotally mounted upon the upper clamping member 11 as by a screw 27 or its equivalent. Preferably the upper clamping member 11 is of increased width as compared with the lower clamping member 12 and a flat bearing surface 28 is formed on the under side of the plate 21 to increase the strength of the chin rest mounting.

It is conventional practice to employ a chin rest on a violin of such construction that the major axis of the chin rest extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the major axis of the violin. However, my invention contemplates so constructing the plate 21 that it can be turned to adjust the longitudinal axis of the chin rest more nearly parallelto the major axis of the violin substantially to the position illustrated upon Fig. 2. The violin preferably is held so that the plane of the violin is inclined only a few degrees from the vertical, the top 17 of the violin being turned towards the players face, as illustrated upon Fig. 1. This facilitates both bowing and fingering as will be readily understood. Moreover, turning the violin in thus manner turns the upper surface of the chin rest 6 toward the players face, permitr 4? violin in playing position. In other Words,

the resilient strip 32 causes the chin rest 6' ting a portion of the players cheek and chin to seat within the depression'fz and with the relatively narrow marginal edge 31 of the chin rest which is adjacent the deepest portion 26 of the depression to engage behind the players cheek bone. Thus it may be seen thatthe chin rest of the present invention is which will afiord himthe greatest convenience and comfort in holding the violin in the 7 position which he prefers when playing.

ual user.

The neck-engaging member 9 co-operates with the chin rest 6 in holding the violin in playing position. This member comprises a strip 32 of resilient material such as spring steel which may or may not be provided with a covering of felt or equivalent material according'to the requirements of the individ- One end 33 of the strip 32 is anchored in preferably the lower clamping member 12 with the strip extending rearwards from the back end 19.0f the violin. The strip 32 is curved, as indicated at 36, so that it substantially conforms to the back of the players neck. The parts are so proportioned and arranged that when the violin is disposed in substantially the position illus trated upon Fig. 1 with the chin rest 6 engaging the players chin and cheek as hereinabove described the curved portion 36 of the neck-engaging member 39 will press with sufiicient force against the back of the players neck to assist materially in holding the to be pressed against the players chin and cheek, decreasing the amount of force which must be exerted by the players arm which grasps the neck 37 of the violin. Accordingly, this feature also facilitates proper fingering of the strings 38 in order to play the instrument.

It is to be understood that the details of the invention as herein disclosed are subject to alteration within the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a violin holder, a chin rest'comprising a plate having a concave upper surface substantially conforming to a portion of a players cheek and chin, and means for pivotally mounting said plate upon a violin.

2; In a violin holder, a clamp comprising upper and lower clamping members adapted to engage a violin therebetween and means for clamping said members against said violin to secure said clamp thereto, and achin rest comprising a plate having a concavity in its uppersurface'adapted to receive a portion of a players cheek and chin, and means for pivotally mounting said plate upon said clamp.

3. A violin holder comprising in combination, a clamp, a chin rest, pivotally mounted thereon, and a curved resilient strip mounted on said clamp and extending rearwards from the back end of said violin and adapted to engage the back of the players neck.

4. A violin holder comprising in combination, a clamp, a chin rest-having a concavity in its upper surface adapted to receive a portion of a players cheek and chin, means for mounting said chin rest upon said clamp for pivotal movement about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of a violin, and means mountedon said clamp and extending rearwards from the back end'of said violin and adapted to; engage the back of the players neck.

5. In a violin holder, a clamp comprising upper and lower clamping members adapted toengagea violin therebetween, means for clamping said members against said violin to secure said clamp thereto, a chin rest comprising a plate, and means for pivotally mounting said centthe backend of said violin.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

PETER STEVENS BISHOP.

plate upon said clamp adja- 

